Lyon, France



I’m not a huge fan of big cities, but I fell for Lyon in a big way. Unlike Paris, it’s easy to orient oneself and move around and it’s not jam-packed with tourists. On top of that, it’s a very attractive city with lots to see and do.


The city is located in the centre of France and has been a regional capital since the Roman era. You can visit two amphitheatres and a modern museum packed with Roman mosaics and statues.


During the Renaissance, the city hosted large commercial fairs and Italian bankers set up business here. In the 19th century, Lyon was the centre of the silk-weaving industry and traces of this still remain in the Croix Rousse district.


The old city is a Unesco World Heritage site and is fascinating to visit as your guide will lead you into and between buildings by various hidden passageways.


For meat eaters, there are a host of small restaurants with an excellent reputation and there are 4 Paul Bocuse Brasseries to visit as well.


The shopping area, formerly packed with publishing houses, is located on the peninsula between the Rhône and the Sâone.


The two rivers, along with the hillside neighbourhoods above the rivers, make it easy to navigate the city and you have a combination of metro, tram, and bus to make moving from one area to another as quick and easy as possible.


The Basilica and the replica Eiffel Tower are convenient landmarks. You can take the funicular up the hill and then walk down through a lovely garden full of heritage roses and scented flowering vines.


There is plenty to see and do, including some very artistic underground parking garages (seriously!). I very much enjoyed a cruise on the Sâone as well as 3 guided tours of the historical parts of the city. I also took two wine tours to the south and north of Lyon. There are all sorts of museums to visit as well as both indoor and outdoor markets.

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